Method of preparing ferrocene polymers

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of preparing ferrocene polymers which comprises reacting ferrocene with aldehydes or ketones in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent having a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye. The invention has the following advantages in comparison with prior arts; (1) polymer yields are considerably improved. Usually 30 - 60 percent increases are achieved. (2) Quantity of tarry byproducts is very small. (3) Most of the ferrocene polymers obtained are tractable. (4) Some of the ferrocene polymers obtained have extremely high electric conductivity.

United States Patent Kato Y June 25, 1974 [54] METHOD OF PREPARING FERROCENE 3,504,052 3/1970 Neuse et al. 260/836 POL 3,640,959 2/ 1972 Bilow et al 3,640,963 2/1972 Bilow et a1 260/67 R [75] Inventor: Hiroshi Kato, Takatsuki, Japan [73] Assignee: Dainichi-Nippon Cables, Ltd.,

Hyogo-ken, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 286,359

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 10, 1971 Japan 46-70638 Dec. 22, 1971 Japan 46-104998 52 us. (:1. 260/63 R, 260/67 R, 260/67 A [51] int. Cl C08g 13/00, C08g 15/00 [58] Field of Search 260/67 A, 67 R, 63 R [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,341,495 9/1967 Neuse 260/67 3,437,634 4/1969 Neuse 260/47 3.448.082 6/1969 McGarth et al. 260/67 Primary Examiner-Lester L. Lee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 5 7 ABSTRACT The present invention provides a method of preparing ferrocene polymers which comprises reacting ferrocene with aldehydes or ketones in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent having a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye.

The invention has the following advantages in comparison with prior arts; (1) polymer yields are considerably improved. Usually 30 60 percent increases are achieved. (2) Quantity of tarry by-products is very small. (3) Most of the ferrocene polymers obtained are tractable. (4) Some of the ferrocene polymers obtained have extremely high electric conductivity.

14 Claims, No Drawings METHOD OF PREPARING FERROCENE POLYMERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel method of preparing ferrocene polymers. More particularly, it provides an improved methods of preparing ferrocene polymers by reacting ferrocene with aldehydes or ketones.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, there have been proposed several methods of preparing ferrocene polymers by reacting ferrocene with some aldehydes and ketones, as described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,341,495; 3,437,634, 3,640,961; etc. However, those methods have a several disadvantages, such as (l) polymer yields being generally low, (2) tarry substance as by-product being in large amounts, (3) many of the ferrocene polymers obtained being intractable, that is, insoluble inmost solvents and unfabricatable into fibers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method of preparing ferrocene polymers which comprises reacting ferrocene with at least one member selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and ketones in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent having a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye. The inven tion can overcome those disadvantages of the prior methods substantially.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As described above, this invention comprises reacting ferrocene with at least one member selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and ketones in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent having a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye.

The ferrocene polymers obtained in the present invention have alternative linear structures of ferrocene and aldehyde or ketone moieties, as shown in the following general formula (1 wherein R and R are hydrogen atom, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl, or aryl group, and may also be pennitted to construct a spiro-ring between R and R,, where alicyclic ketones, such as cyclohexanone, are employed as said ketone.

The value of n is a positive integer between to 1,000, and the centered position of the substituent link on the left-hand side of formula l implies that the formula (1) involves l,1-, 1,2-, and 1,3-substitutions as well as a mixture of those.

The present invention gives the following various advantages in comparison with the prior methods by carrying out the polymerization reactions in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent described later.

1. Polymer yields are considerably improved. Usually 30 60 percent increases are achieved in comparison with prior arts.

\ 2. Quantity of tarry by-products is reduced to less than approximately one-third of that of prior arts, and in most cases the quantity is negligible small.

In addition, the tarry by-products outgrowing in the prior arts are mostly insoluble or hardly soluble in any solvent. Whereas, those of the present invention are so readily soluble in several solvents, such as benzene, acetone and chloroform as to make the purification of the ferrocene polymers easier.

3. Most of the ferrocene polymers obtained in this invention are tractable; they are soluble in some organic solvents and can be fabricated into a filament.

4. Ferrocene polymers with extremely high electric conductivity, (1O ohm-cm. of lower in volume resistivity) may be prepared by selecting a kind of aldehydes or ketones. Such a high conductivity in the ferrocene polymers has never been attained previously.

In the present invention, aldehydes or ketones used have the general formula:

RCOR

wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl and aryl, or when taken together form a spiro-ring.

Typical examples of aldehydes and ketones are:

1. Compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is one containing at least one aromatic nucleus; l-naphthylaldehyde, 2- naphthylaldehyde, p-tolylaldehyde, 2- phenanthrylaldehyde, a, ,Bdiphenylpropionaldehyde, o-phenylbenzaldehyde, pphenylbenzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, 2,6-dimethylbenzaldehyde, fl-phenylpropionaldehyde, l-anthrylaldehyde, acetophenone, methylbenzylketone,, phenyl ethyl ketone, 0- methylacetophenone, m-methylacetophenone, phenyl-n-propyl ketone, phenyl isopropyl ketone, p-methylpropiophenone, o-ethylacetophenone, 2,4-dimethylacetophenone, dimethylacetophenone, phenyl n-butyl ketone, phenyl s-butyl ketone, phenyl t-butyl ketone, 2,4,5- trimethylacetophenone, 2-phenylcyclopentanone, phenyl neopentyl ketone, Z-phenylcyclohexanone, 7-acenaphthenone, methyl a-naphthyl ketone, 9- acetylanthracene, acetylbiphenyl, anthrone, fluorenone, acetylfiuorene, p-methylbenzophenone, 3-benzoylphenanthrene, l-benzoylacenaphthene, 9-anthraphenone, tetraphenylacetone, l-indanone, ethyl benzyl ketone, benzylacetone, 3-phenyl-2- butanone, a-tetralone, B-tetralone, 3-phenyl-2- pentanone, 4-phenyl-2-pentanone, 5-phenyl-2- pentanone, 2-methyll -tetralone, 3-methylltetralone, 7-methyl-l-tetralone, 6-acetyltetralin, benzylpinacolone, -propionyltetralin, phenyl benzyl ketone, cyclopropyl phenyl ketone, cyclohexyl phenyl ketone, o-chlorobenzaldehyde, oiodobenzaldehyde, m-chlorobenzaldehyde, pchlorobenzaldehyde, p-iodobenzaldehyde, pdimethylaminobenz'aldehyde, l

bromonaphthaldehyde, a-bromobenzyl acetalde- 3 4 hyde, o-chlorobenzophenone, '4-phenyl-3-bromoacrolein, methacrolein, crotonaldehyde, Z-methyl- Z-butanone, a-chloro-a-phenylacetone, mcrotonaldehyde, 3-methylcrotonaldehyde, 2-

ethyl-crotonaldehyde, l-cyclopentenealdehyde, Z-methyll -cyclopentenealdehyde, Z-ethyllcyclopentenealdehyde, l-cyclohexenealdehyde,

chloroacetophenone, m-bromophenacylbromide. 2. Compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is an aliphatic group or an alicy- 5 clic group; Z-methyll -cyclohexenealdehyde, 2-phenyll n-nonylaldehyde, n-decanal, n-tetradecanal, cycyclohexenealdehyde, l-cycloheptenealdehyde,

clohexanealdehyde, diethylacetaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, 2-phenyl-crotonaldehyde 2- methylcinnamaldehyde, 2-phenyl- 3,3-dimethylpentanal, valeraldehyde, butyraldecinnamaldehyde, 2-ethylcinnamaldehyde, furfuhyde, methylethylacetaldehyde, trimel thylacetaldehyde, caproic aldehyde, cyclopentylaldehyde, cyclopropylaldehyde, octaldehyde, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl n-propyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, diethyl ketone,

ral, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone, trans-3-hepten- 2-one, -methyl-4-hexen-3-one, 5,5-dimethyl-3- hexen-2-one, 7-methyl-5-octen-4-one, 3-propylmethyl n-butyl ketone, methyl isobutyryl ketone, 3-hexen-2-one, 2-cyclohexenone, 2- methyl s-butyl ketone, methyl n-amyl ketone, cyclopentenone, 2-cycloheptenone, 2- methyl isoamyl ketone, 3-methyl-2-hexanone, cyclooctenone, tropone, 2,4,5-trimethyl-4- 3-ethyl-2-pentanone, diisopropyl ketone, ethyl hexen-3-one.

isobutyl ketone, ethyl isoamyl ketone, isopropyl 5.-2 Compounds of which at least one group attached isobutyl ketone, isopropyl t-butyl ketone, to carbonyl group is an unsaturated olefinic group 4 methyl-2-octanone, di-n-butyl ketone, di-tother than afi-unsaturated groups;

butyl ketone, isopropyl t-amyl ketone, methyl n- 3-hexenaldehyde, 2-methyl-2-hexenaldehyde, 2- octyl ketone, syn-tetraethyl acetone, di-n-amyl heptenaldehyde, 2-octenaldehyde, 2- ketone, methyl n-decyl ketone, di-n-octyl kenonenaldehyde, 2-cyclohexenaldehyde, 2- tone, stearone, dicyclopropyl ketone, cyclohexycyclopentenaldehyde, 3-cyclooctenaldehyde,

lacetone, cyclopentyl methyl ketone, cyclopentyl methyl ketone, 2-methylcyclohexyl methyl ke- 2-methylcycloheptenaldehyde, c0umarin-3- aldehyde, methyl propenyl ketone, allylacetone,

tone, tribromoacetaldehyde, B-chloropro- 4-hexen-2-one,, mesityloxide, methallylacetone, pionaldehyde, a-bromoisobutylaldehyde, 4,4-dimethyl---penten-3-one, 3-ethyl-5-hexenbromoparacetaldehyde, 2-methyl-2,3- 2-one, 2,3-dimethyl-6-hepten-4-one, 4- dichloropentanal, a-bromoheptaldehyde, cyclohexenyl methyl ketone, 3-cyclohexenyl methyl ketone. 6, Compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is a hydroxy-substituted or an al- 4-amino-2-heptanone, l-cyano-2-pentanone, chloroethyl methyl ketone, bromoethyl ethyl ketone, ethyl B-chloroethyl ketone, 6-bromo-2- 2-acetyl-5 methylthiophene, ethyl 2-pyridyl kehexanone, 1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone. koxy-substituted group; 3. Alicyclic ketones; o-anisaldehyde, m-anisaldehyde, p-anisaldehyde,

cyclopropanone, cyclobutanone, cyclopentanone, salicylaldehyde, o-ethoxybenzaldehyde, m-

cyclohexanone, cycloheptanone, cyclooctanone, ethoxy-benzaldehyde, p-ethoxybenzaldehyde, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexanone, 2-phenylcy- 3,4-diethoxy-benzaldehyde, phenoxybenzaldeclohexanone, 2-chlorocyclohexanone, 2- hyde, resorcylaldehyde, mcyclohexenone, 2-cyclopentenone, 2- hydroxybenzaldehyde, ethylphenylglycolic aldecycloheptanone, tropolone, tropone, 2- hyde, l-naphthol-Z-aldehyde, diphenylglycolic cyclooctenone. aldehyde, glycolaldehyde, a-hydroxypro- 4. Compounds of which at least one group attached pionaldehyde, hydroxypyruvic aldehyde, 4- to carbonyl group is a heterocyclic group; hydroxybutanal, S-hydroxypentanal, a,a-difurfural, 3-furaldehyde, tetrahydrofurylaldehyde, methyl-,B-hydroxypropionaldehyde, methyl-n- 2-thiophenealdehyde, 3-phenaldehyde, oz-pyrbutylglycolic aldehyde, 9-hydroxynonanal, merolealdehyde, S-methylfurfural, 3-methyl-2-thiothoxyacetaldehyde, ethoxyacetaldehyde, B-mephene-aldehyde, nicotinaldehyde, ,B-furylpro- 5O thoxyiso-butyraldehyde, 2-methyl-2,3-dimepionaldehyde, indole-3-aldehyde, coumarin-3- thoxy-pentanal, 2-eth0xy-l-naphthaldehyde, aldehyde, quinoline-Z-aldehyde, quinoline-4- m-benzyloxybenzaldehyde,3,4,5-trimethoxybenaldehyde, iso-quinaldehyde, dibenzofuran-Z- zaldehyde, acetol, l-hydroxy-butanone, aldehyde, S-methylfurfural, 3-thiophanone, 2- l-hydroxy-2-pentanone,4-hydroxy-2heptanone, acetylfuran, 2-acetylthiophene, a-furylacetone, 5-hydroxy-2-heptanone, methoxymethyl methyl ethyl Z-furyl ketone, Z-acetyI-S-methyl-firran, ketone, methoxypropyl propyl ketone, isoa-thienylacetone,, ethyl Z-thienyl ketone, propoxymethyl methyl ketone, a-methoxypinacolone, l-methoxyethyl isobutyl ketone,

phenoxyacetone, a-methoxyacetophenone, ,B-naphthoxyacetone, m-methoxybenzophenone, p-phenoxybenzophenone, n-propoxymethyl tone, ethyl 3-pyridyl ketone, l-(a-furyl)-2- butanone, 5-methyl-2-propionfuran, n-propyl 3- pyridyl ketone, methyl 2-benzofuryl ketone, 2-

benzoyl furan, 2-acetylquinoline, 8- phenyl ketone, m-hydroxyacetophenone, pacetylquinoline, 2-benzoylpyridine, 2- propiophenol, o-propiophenol, acetyl phenyl mephenacylpyridine, 2-acetyldibenzofuran, thylcarbinol, 4-ethoxycyclohexyl isopropyl ke- 2-acetyldibenzothiophene. tone, 4-hydroxycyclohexyl methyl ketone, 4-

methoxycyclohexyl t-butyl ketone, tropolone. The halo-, aminoand cyano-substituted compounds are also involved as indicated above.

5.-1 Compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is an a,,B-unsaturated olefinic group;

Among the above-mentioned many aldehydes and ketones, there are preferably employed compounds of which each of both groups, R and R attached to carbonyl group have a carbon number of or less, the alicyclic ketones having a carbon number of or less.

More preferably a,B-unsaturated compounds of which both groups attached to carbonyl group have a carbon number of 25 or less.

Examples of Lewis acid are metal halides, such as FeCl SnCl AlCl ZnCl TiCl FeBr AlBr SnCl.,, and halogens, such as 1 Br and boron compounds, such as BF BF -O(CH CH B(CH Preferable examples of Lewis acids are the metal halides and the halogens as abovementioned. A mixture of those two or more Lewis acids may also be used. The most preferable is FeCl AlCl or SnCl In the present invention, employment of an aprotic, polar solvent with a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye is essential as a reaction solvent.

Of the solvents, more the preferable are those which are miscible with water in any portion, can dissolve Lewis acids in the ratio of at least 20 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the solvent, and have a boiling point of 80C. or higher.

Examples of such preferable solvents are N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide, acetonitrile, polyphosphoric acid. Especially, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-Z-pyrrolidone and dimethylsulfoxide are most preferable in the viewpoint of easy removal and recovering of the solvent and purification of the products. The aprotic, polar solvents with a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye can be successfully utilized not only by itself, but also as a mixture with one or more other aprotic, polar solvents.

Furthermore, those mixtures containing an aprotic solvent having a dipole moment of less than 0.5 Debye may be utilized, so long as the mixtures keep the value of the dipole moment at least 0.5 Debye.

In the present invention ferrocene and aldehyde or ketone are allowed to react generally in. l 1 molar ratio, more preferably in a ratio of 0.8 to 0.9 mole of aldehyde or ketone to 1 mole of ferrocene. The quantity of aprotic, polar solvent is selected from the range of 100 to 2,000 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of reactants (ferrocene plus aldehyde or ketone). In case where the solvent is employed in a quantity in excess of said upper limit, the reaction rate tends to decrease and the molecular weight of the ferrocene polymer yielded becomes also lower by reason of diluted concentration of the reactants in the reaction system.

On the other hand, where the quantity of the solvent is less than said lower limit, it begins to bring about somewhat disadvantages as those of prior arts because of the reaction condition coming to close that of the solvent-free reaction.

The polymerization reactions in the present invention are carried out preferably at a temperature above 40C., more preferably within a temperature range of 70 to 180C., most preferably, 70 to 150C.

Reaction at a temperature of above 180C, however, is not recommendable since in most cases such a reaction at high temperature results in the formation of ferrocene polymers thermally deteriorated more or less.

The reaction period varies within about 0.5 to 8 hours, depending upon reaction temperature, kind and quantity of Lewis acid catalyst, polar solvent, and aldehyde or keton used, etc.

The polymerization reactions in accordance with the invention may be performed in a variety of conventional ways under an atmospheric or pressuerized conditions.

Ferrocene polymers thus obtained are rather lighter tone than that of the corresponding polymers obtained in prior art, and have molecular weight of approximately 1,500 to 200,000. Many of these are soluble in N,N-dimethylforrnamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, etc., partly soluble in acetone, chloroform, etc.

They have good thermal and oxidative stability, flexibility or elasticity. Most ferrocene polymers obtained in accordance with the invention are useful as a paint material, reaction catalyst, hardner, stabilizer or antioxidant for rubbers and plastics. Furthermore, they possess good tractability and superior electric conductivity, therefore they will find a wider application in the electronic or electric industry as a semiconductive or conductive polymeric material.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the following Examples, together with Comparative Examples. All parts and percents are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 Into a 20 ml. four-necked round bottom flask equipped with mechanical stirrer and reflux condenser were placed 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 5 parts of N,N-dimethyl-formamide DMF, dipole moment 3.86 Debye *1), 1 part of benzaldehyde, and 0.1 part of anhydrous ferric chloride (FeCl in this order. Dry nitrogen was fiushed three times into the system so as to exhaust air, and the system was maintained under inert gas atmosphere during the reaction.

The mixture was vigorously agitated, and slightly exothermic reaction was occurred and the mixture was discolored from deep red to dark brown. Then the mix ture was quickly heated to 120C. under vigorous stirring. (All temperatures are centigraded). Heating was continued at this temperature for 1 hour, thereafter the mixture was cooled to room temperature to give elastic mass together with viscous solution. The crude product was filtered and the elastic mass was washed with three 20 ml. portions of hot water and dried under a reduced pressure (2mmHg).

The filtrate was diluted with 50 ml. of water and the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with hot water, dried, and combined into major part of the polymeric product. The crude polymer was extracted (Soxhlet)'with petroleum ether followed by benzene extraction. Purified polymer as light brown mass was obtained in almost quantitative yield (97 percent), and exhibited the softening range to semiconducting property (volume resistivity 2.04 X 10 ohm-cm. *2) and characteristic infrared adsorption bands at 1600, 1150, 1100, 1010, 795, and 695 emf This polymer was readily soluble in DMF, N,N- dimethylacetamide (DMAc) or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and could be fabricated into fibers by injecting its DMF solution into water (hereinafter, such features are briefly called tractable) and was able to mold into a sheet (such a feature briefly called elastic) at 120 under pressure (over 5 kg./cm.

From petroleum ether and benzene extracts excess and unreacted ferrocene was recovered quantitatively after A1 column chromatographic separation and even a trace of tarry product was not detected. *1 Di-' pole moment (,u.) was obtained from the following Lorentz-Lorentz equation;

,0. 0.0128 (P-1.05M )T wherein T is absolute temperature, P is specific dielectric constant and M is molecular refluctive index. P was measured using OE-2l Type electrode for liquid sample manufactured by Yokogawa Electric Co., at

' 26, 1 KHZ and M was measured by sodium D-line.

*2 As a volume resistivity p was adopted the value obtained after 1 minute charge at 23, DC 5V using metallic plate electrode (surface area 20 cm.).

Comparative Example 1 Employing the same equipment used in the preceding Example, the mixture of 1 part of benzaldehyde, 1.2 parts of ferrocene and 0.1 part of FeCl;, was heated with vigorous stirring under nitrogen atmosphere, the

temperature was raised to 175. Heating was continued at this temperature for 1 hour, the mixture became highly viscous and agglomerated around the stirring rod. The cooled crude product was solidified, extracted exhaustively with hot water to remove residual catalyst, and dried. After purification of the pulverized polymer by means of Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether and benzene, dark brown polymer was isolated in only 45.5 percent yield. This polymer did not melt at 300 or above, and was insoluble or hardly soluble in many organic solvents such as acetone, chloroform, acetic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, and even in DMF, DMAc, .iiid' EH86 (hereinafter, the poorer solubility of ferro cene polymer in DMF, DMAc and DMSO is referred to as intractable). This powdery polymer exhibited electric semiconductivity with a volume resistivity 3 X ohm-cm. Although evaporation of the petroleum ether and benzene extracts followed by A1 0 column chromatography gave a recovery of unreacted ferrocene in several portions, the formation of significant amount of tarry material was observed.

Example 2 The general procedure of Example 1 was repeated I except that 1 part of p-tolylaldehyde was employed instead of 1 part of benzaldehyde. Polycondensation was proceeded similarly, and tractable, elastic polymer of copper-toned was obtained in 85 percent yield after usual work up. This polymer showed an excellent electric conductivity (7.05 X 10 ohm-cm.) after exhaustive purification in usual manner, and characteristic infrared absorption bands at 1600, 1380, 1170, 1095, 1005, 800 and 710 cm Comparative Example 2 I Example 3 The mixture of 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 1 part of panisaldehyde, 5 parts of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc, dipole moment 3.79 Debye), and 0.1 part of FeCl;, was heated at 120 for 1 hour with vigorous stirring under nitrogen atmosphere. After usual procedure described in Example 1, tractable and elastic polymer of dark brown was isolated in almost quantitative yield (98 percent), which was soluble even in acetone. The polymer showed a moderate semiconductivity of 5.38 X 10 ohm-cm. Infrared spectrum of this polymer showed absorption bands at 1610, 1380, 1240, 1145, 1005, 810, and 710 cm.

Comparative Example 3 Similar reaction with Comparative Example 1 was repeated except that 1 part of p-anisaldehyde was employed instead of benzaldehyde. The mixture was not solidified as different as seen in Comparative Example 1 and the viscosity of the mixture was somewhat lower. After removal of unreacted monomer by washing with petroleum ether and benzene, respectively, a small amount of polymeric substance was obtained (less than 10 percent yield).

When the reaction was repeated at 185 for 1 hour, no steep increase of viscosity also occurred, and black tarry product was formed. Crude product was carefully poured into a 300 ml. of mixture of water and methanol (1 2) to precipitate a polymeric portion. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with three 50 ml. portions of water. Drying under a reduced pressure (ZmmHg) followed by benzene extraction gave a black powder in 60 percent yield having a volume resistivity of 7.8 X 10 ohm-cm.

Example 4 The mixture of 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 1 part of cinnamaldehyde, 5 parts of DMAc and 0.1 part of well ground anhydrous aluminium chloride (AlCl was vigorously agitated and an exothermic reaction occurred without discoloration. The mixture was heated at 120 for 1 hour under nitrogen atmospheric condition. ldenticalwork up (purification) described in Example 1 gave a desired polymeric product as a tractable, elastic brown mass in quantitative yield (98 percent) having a characteristic infrared absorption bands at 1 180, l 150, 1085, 1030, 965, 750, and 710 cm. This polymer was also semiconductive with a volume resistivity of 2.0 X 10 ohm-cm. and showed softening range 170 to 178.

Example 5 Ferrocene (1.2 parts), crotonaldehyde (1 part), and well pulverized stannyl chloride (SnCl were mixed in 5 parts of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (dipole moment 4.01 Debye) without any exothermic reaction and discoloration. The resulting mixture was stirred and heated at to for 1 hour. Cooling, followed by usual work up described in Example 1 gave a tractable, elastic polymer as a brown mass in excellent yield (as high as 92 percent). This polymer exhibited a significant electric conductivity (6.6 X 10 ohm-cm.) as its characteristics.

Example 6 General procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 1 part of furfural and parts of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA, dipole moment 4.31 Debye) as solvent instead of benzaldehyde and DMF, respectively. Reaction was carried out the same as in Example 1, and desired polymer as brown sponge was isolated in 75 percent yield after usual work up, which polymer was one of the most elastic among a series of the ferrocene polymers and could easily be molded into a sheet capable of elongating under a considerable tensile force. This polymer had a softening point 180.

It was also found that the polymer showed a semiconducting property (with volume resistivity of 2.3 X ohm-cm. and characteristic infrared absorption bands at 1600, 1275, 1160, 1020, 935, and 800 cm.

Comparative Example 4 Employing similar reaction conditions used in Comparative Example 1, 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 1 part of furfural and 0.1 part of anhydrous FeCl;, were heated with rapid stirring without any solvent. At the end point of the reaction, a mixture became a highly viscous which solidified as black mass when cooled to room temperature. Well pulverized crude product was thoroughly washed with hot water, dried and purified by means of Soxhlet extraction (using petroleum ether and benzene as solvent) to give intractive black powder in 34 percent yield.

Comparative Example 5 To elucidate the effect of solvent, similar reaction described in Comparative Example 4 was carried out at 120 for 1 hour. In this condition, only a small amount of black polymer which resembles to one obtained in Comparative Example 4 was isolated, in less than 7 percent yield after usual procedure. Dark brown to black tar was formed in significant amount, and over 80 percent of unreacted ferrocene was recovered, while recovery of furfural was not exceeded percent probably due to oxidative side reaction which would lead to tarry product.

Example 7 A mixture of 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 1 part of n-nonyl aldehyde, 0.1 part of pulverized SnCl and 5 parts of DMF was well stirred and heated at 120 for prolonged period (2 hours) owing to relatively low reactivity of n-nonyl aldehyde. Usual work up gave an elastic, tractable polymer in good yield (over 88 percent yield) which had infrared absorption bands at 2800, 1450, 1380, 1240, 1030, 820, and 715 cm."

Example 8 The general procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 1 part of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde was employed instead of benzaldehyde. Dark brown, tractable polymer was obtained in 80 percent yield exhibiting a moderate electric conductivity of 5.1 X 10 ohm-cm. Characteristic infrared absorption bands of this polymer were observed at 1605, 1385, 1380, 1235, 1150, 860, 820, and 730 cm.

Example 9 The reaction described in Example 1 was repeated using 1 part of salicylaldehyde instead of benzaldehyde and tractable polymer was obtained as polymeric semiconductor (1.8 X 10 ohm-cm.) in over 80 percent yield. Among the characteristic infrared absorption bands of this polymer, the band assigned to isolated hydroxyl group was'found at 3620 cm.

Comparative Example 6 Example 10 The same reaction as described in Comparative Example 6 was carried out with a mixture (dipole moment 1.76 Debye) of toluene and DMF (4 6). The reaction was completed within only 1.5 hours, and tractable, brown polymer was obtained in percent yield after general procedure. Furthermore, unreacted ferrocene was recovered in almost quantitative amount accompanying with negligible amount of tarry by-products.

Example 1 1 The same reaction as described in Example 9 was also effected except that 0.1 part of SnCl was employed as catalyst instead of FeCl;,. Deep orange mixture became'greenish gray in the final stage, and the polymer was obtained in 73 percent yield after purification. This tractable, elastic polymer had a volume resistivity of 6.35 X 10'' ohm-cm. the same as that of the specimen obtained in Example 9.

Example 12 A mixture of 1.2 parts of ferrocene, 1 part of propionaldehyde, 5 parts of DMF, and 0.1 part of iodine (1 was placed in a sealed tube to avoid evaporation of the aldehyde (boiling point 41). The vessel was gently heated, and heating was continued at to for 1 hour in an oil bath. After usual treatment of the products, purified polymer was obtained as dark brown powder in good yield (approximately 84 percent). This polymer was soluble in DMF, HMPA and dimethylsufloxide.

Example 13 The reaction similar toExample 12 was also carried out but less effective at reflux temperature of the aldehyde. More prolonged reaction time (8 hours or longer) was required to obtain fairly good yield of polymer (above 75 percent). The polymer isolated here was tractable.

Comparative Example 7 When the same reaction as described in preceding Examples (Examples 12 and 13) was carried out without solvent, no significant amount (less than 10 percent yield) of polymeric substance was isolated, while byproducts with unknown structure as black'tar was formed in amount of 20 percent bared on ferrocene 65 used.

Example 14 The general procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that the reaction was carried out at 80 for 2 hours. After work up in usual manner, tractable, dark brown polymerwas isolated in 72 percent yield. This polymer exhibited almost identical infrared absorption bands and electric conductivity with that of polymer obtained in Example 2.

Example 15 Into a 20 ml. of four-necked round bottom flask equipped with mechanical stirrer and reflux condenser was placed 1 part of ferrocene, 0.95 part of benzophenone, 0.2 part of FeCl and 10 parts of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in this order. Dry nitrogen was flushed several times into the system and the system was maintained under inert gas atmosphere during the reaction. The mixture was heated at 140 with vigorous stirring in the course of 2 hours, and the polymeric mass was solidified as copper-toned elastomer. Bulk of the solvent was removed by filtration, poured into water (100 ml.), precipitate formed was collected and combined with the major fraction. The combined polymeric fraction was washed with water, extracted (Soxhlet) with petroleum ether and benzene, respectively, and dried under a reduced pressure (2 mmHg). Tractable polymer was isolated in 75 percent yield exhibiting infrared absorption bands at 1600, 1280, 1185, 1070, 950, and 700 cmf It was also found that the polymer was prominent organic semiconductor with volume resistivity of 2.0 X 10 ohm-cm.

From petroleum ether and benzene extracts about 15 percent of unreacted ferrocene was recovered after A1 0 column chromatography and even a trace of tarry material was not detected.

Furthermore, reactions employing DMF or DMAc as solvents were also effective the same as the case using DMSO.

Example 16 The similar reaction with Example 15 was also effected employing parts of nitrobenzene (dipolemoment 4.21 Debye) as a solvent instead of DMSO. Owing to insolubility of nitrobenzene in water, most of the solvent was removed by distillation to isolate the product. Defferent from the preceding Examples wherein the solvents were removed extremely easily by washing with water for their miscibility with water, exaustive removal of nitrobenzene from the product was significantly difficult, and more careful procedures were required. Washing of filtered polymer with a mixture of petroleum ether and benzene (1 1) followed by drying at 60 under a reduced pressure (ZmmHg) for over night gave a dark brown, tractable polymer of fairly semiconductive in 70 percent yield. The infrared spectrum of this polymer was nearly coincided with that of polymer obtained in Example 15.

Example 17 A mixture of 1 part of ferrocene, 0.6 part of cyclohexanone, 0.05 part of SnCl 0.05 part of ZnCl and 10 parts of N-methyl-Z-pyrrolidone was well stirred and heated at 140 in the course of 2 hours under nitrogen atmosphere. After usual treatment, brown tractable polymer having conductivity of 2.5 X 10 ohm-cm. was obtained in good yield (75 percent or more) exhibiting characteristic infrared absorption bands at 1600, 1280, 1105, 1030, 720 and 700 cm. From non-polymeric fraction, 28 percent of unreacted ferrocene was recovered after A1 0 column chromatography.

Example 18 The same reaction as Example 17 was carried out except that 0.1 part of FeCl;, was employed instead of SnCl and ZnCl In this example, more elastic, tractable polymer of copper-toned was obtained in excellent yield (82 percent). This polymer could be molded into a sheet and exhibited almost identical infrared spectrum to that of polymer obtained in Example 17. Recovery of unreacted ferrocene was about 6 percent.

Example 19 A mixture of 1 part of ferrocene, 0.9 part of acetophenone, 10 parts of DMF and 0.1 part of FeCl;, was reacted in similar manner described in Exam ple l j,

and tractable elastic polyrnefexhibiting good electric conductivity of 3.0 X 10 ohm-cm. was isolated in 71 percent yield. The reaction employing 10 parts of DMAc or DMSO as solvent was also effective similarly.

Comparative Example 8 The reaction which described in Example 19 was carried out without solvent, and intractable copper-toned polymeric material was isolated in rather sluggish yield (56 percent or lower). This polymer exhibited rather inferior electric conductivity (4 X 10 ohm-cm.) About 36 percent of unreacted ferrocene was recovered.

Example 20 The similar reaction as described in Example 19 was carried out by using 10 parts of benzonitrile instead of DMF. Tractable and elastic polymer of brown mass was obtained in 69 percent yield exhibiting semiconductivity of 5.2 X 10 ohm-cm. The reaction employing 10 parts of acetonitrile as solvent at 82 to 84 for 2 hours was also effective similarly, and the polymer was isolated in 65 percent yield.

Example 21 A mixture of 1 part of ferrocene, 0.95 part of benzophenone,- 0.2 part of stannic chloride (SnCl and 10 parts of polyphosphoric acid was heated at for 1.5 hours. After usual work up described in Example 15, tractable, elastic polymer was obtained in 68 percent yield. This polymer was also semiconductive of 6.8 X 10 ohm-cm.

Example 22 What is claimed is: 1. A method of preparing ferrocene polymers having the general formula:

RCOR

wherein R and R are the same as described above,

in the ratio of 0.8 to 1 mole of aldehydes or ketones to 1 mole of ferrocene,

at a temperature of from above 40 to 180C in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Lewis acid catalyst and an aprotic, polar solvent having a dipole moment of at least 0.5 Debye which is present in the ratio of 100 to 2,000 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total amounts of said reactants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said aprotic, polar solvent is the one which is miscible with water in any portion, and can dissolve said Lewis acid in the ratio of at least parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the solvent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said aprotic, polar solvent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N- dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-Z-pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide, acetonitrile, benzonitrile and polyphosphoric acid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said Lewis acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal halides and halogens.

5. The 'method of claim 4, wherein said Lewis acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of FeCl;,, SnCl and AlCl;,.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is one member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic groups and alicyclic groups.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said ketones are alicyclic ketones.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at leas t gne roupaflaqhqd. EQ.F?Y'2Q"11 srq a a heterocyclic,

group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is an olefinic group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said olefinic I group is an a, fl-olefinic group.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound is at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrolein, crotonaldehyde, 2- methylcrotonaldehyde, 3-methylcrontonaldehyde, lcyclohexenealdehyde, 2-phenyll cyclohexenealdehyde, cinnamaldehyde, 2-phenylcinnamaldehyde, furfural, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, 2-cyclohexenone', 2-cyclopentenone and methacrolein.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out at a temperature of to C.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said aldehydes and ketones are selected from the group consisting of o-anisaldehyde,

n-propoxymethyl phenyl ketone, mhydroxyacetophenone, p-propiophenol, opropiophenol, acetyl phenyl methylcarbinol, 4- ethoxycyclohexyl isopropyl ketone, 4- hydroxycyclohexyl methyl ketone, 4-

mgho rycyclohexyl t-butyl ketone, and tropolone. 

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said aprotic, polar solvent is the one which is miscible with water in any portion, and can dissolve said Lewis acid in the ratio of at least 20 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the solvent.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said aprotic, polar solvent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide, acetonitrile, benzonitrile and polyphosphoric acid.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said Lewis acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal halides and halogens.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said Lewis acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of FeCl3, SnCl2 and AlCl3.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is one member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic groups and alicyclic groups.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said ketones are alicyclic ketones.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is a heterocyclic group.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is an olefinic group.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said aldehydes and ketones are the compounds of which at least one group attached to carbonyl group is a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said olefinic group is an Alpha , Beta -olefinic group.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound is at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrolein, crotonaldehyde, 2-methylcrotonaldehyde, 3-methylcrontonaldehyde, 1-cyclohexenealdehyde, 2-phenyl-1-cyclohexenealdehyde, cinnamaldehyde, 2-phenyl-cinnamaldehyde, furfural, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, 2-cyclohexenone, 2-cyclopentenone and methacrolein.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out at a temperature of 70* to 180*C.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said aldehydes and ketones are selected from the group coNsisting of o-anisaldehyde, m-anisaldehyde, p-anisaldehyde, salicylaldehyde, o-ethoxybenzaldehyde, m-ethoxybenzaldehyde, p-ethoxybenzaldehyde, 3,4-diethoxybenzaldehyde, phenoxybenzaldehyde, resorcylaldehyde, m-hydroxybenzaldehyde, ethylphenylglycolic aldehyde, 1-naphthol-2-aldehyde, diphenylglycolic aldehyde, glycolaldehyde, Alpha -hydroxypropionaldehyde, hydroxypyruvic aldehyde, 4-hydroxybutanal, 5-hydroxypentanal, Alpha , Alpha -di-methyl-Beta -hydroxypropionaldehyde, methyl-n-butylglycolic aldehyde, 9-hydroxynonanal, methoxyacetaldehyde, ethoxyacetaldehyde, Beta -methoxy-iso-butyraldehyde, 2-methyl-2,3-dimethoxy-pentanal, 2-ethoxy-1-naphthaldehyde, m-benzyloxybenzaldehyde, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, acetol, 1-hydroxy-butanone, 1-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 4-hydroxy-2-heptanone, 5-hydroxy-2-heptanone, methoxymethyl methyl ketone, methoxypropyl propyl ketone, iso-propoxymethyl methyl ketone, Alpha -methoxypinacolone, 1-methoxyethyl isobutyl ketone, phenoxyacetone, Alpha -methoxyacetophenone, Beta -naphthoxyacetone, m-methoxybenzophenone, p-phenoxybenzophenone, n-propoxymethyl phenyl ketone, m-hydroxyacetophenone, p-propiophenol, o-propiophenol, acetyl phenyl methylcarbinol, 4-ethoxycyclohexyl isopropyl ketone, 4-hydroxycyclohexyl methyl ketone, 4-methoxycyclohexyl t-butyl ketone, and tropolone. 